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As long-time readers will recall, I strive to say the Divine Office (Divinum Officium) daily. While I typically will not say any of the nocturns of Matins, I will say the office of Lauds & Vespers. I will also almost always say Sext and None. Terce is typically difficult to fit in since I usually say Lauds at 8 AM and I miss 9 AM Terce. But, on a given week, I'll say Terce 3 times. Compline I will say occasionally but sometimes omit it from my daily prayers and add in devotions instead.

Over time, as I become more fluent and proficient in understanding and navigating the Office, I have seen that the beautiful prayers before and after the Divine Office have fallen into disuse amongst the vast majority of the Faithful, even when such prayers are graced by blessings and indulgences.

This post is an exhortation to rekindle devotion to these prayers by adding them to your Daily Office, no matter if you pray the 1911, 1955, 1962, or later versions of the Office.

To those who devoutly say, kneeling, the Prayer after the Divine Office, Pope Leo X granted the remission of the defects and faults in its recital arising from human frailty. The prayer must always be said kneeling, even in private recitation, unless illness or grave impediment prevents one from kneeling down.

Prayer before Office

Open, O Lord, my mouth to bless thy holy Name; cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding and kindle my affections; that I may worthily, attentively, and devoutly recite this Hour [or these Hours], and so be meet to be heard before the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To God Most Holy, in his Divine Majesty of Trinity in Unity;
To Jesus Christ, our Lord and God made man and crucified for us;
To blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, from whose glorious purity he took flesh;
And to the entire Company of the Saints of God, in heaven;
Be praise, honour, power, and glory, from every creature on earth:
And likewise to us sinners may there be full remission of all our sins:
Throughout all ages, world without end.R. Amen.

V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the everlasting Father.R. And blessed are the paps which gave suck to Christ the Lord.

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comments:

Dear Matthew, I don't think you should worry too much about missing, or alternating the Offices with spiritual reflection, but it is good that more and more people such as yourself are re-finding the Daily Office. The daily prayer of the Church is vital for its true revival.Blessings.Br Graham-Michoel

Thank you for your article. I have used these prayers in the past. I find it interesting that you use traditional text for one and contemporary text for the other. What about the use of the Pater, Ave and Credo at the end of Prayer before Office?

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About the Author

Matthew is a Third Order Dominican living in Chicago, Illinois. Matthew's personal interests include seeking a preservation of traditional Catholicism as practiced before the Second Vatican Council. He exclusively attends the Traditional Latin Mass. Matthew is the author of several books including "How to Create a Catholic Blog," "Understanding the Precepts of the Church," and "Eschatology: The Catholic Study of the Four Last Things." He spends his leisure time traveling, teaching, writing, and enjoying culture.